{"product_id":"switchbot-curtain-rod-pole-white","title":"SwitchBot Curtain (Rod Pole) - White","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\" class=\"in-article-image lead-article-image\" data-tmdatatrack=\"inline-widget\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"6604674\" itemprop=\"image\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"img-container\"\u003e\u003cimg style=\"float: left;\" loading=\"eager\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.essexlive.news\/incoming\/article6604674.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s508\/25_2400_1600.jpg 508w, https:\/\/i2-prod.essexlive.news\/incoming\/article6604674.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s810\/25_2400_1600.jpg 810w\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.essexlive.news\/incoming\/article6604674.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/25_2400_1600.jpg\" alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" content=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.essexlive.news\/incoming\/article6604674.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/25_2400_1600.jpg\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"img-container\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo, me neither, but I'm a sucker for home automation, so I was itching to test a fabulous gadget called a Switchbot that professes to take away this tiresome task.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSwitchbot\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eset out as a popular kick-starter project with a focus on turning a home into a smart home without having to replace all the hardware you already own. One of its key products is a\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003elittle device\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ethat can flick switches and push buttons, and I've yet to have a play with one of those, but I felt drawn, if you'll excuse the expression, to\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003etheir curtain device.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cfigure class=\"in-article-image\" data-mod=\"image\" data-orientation=\"landscape\" data-tmdatatrack=\"inline-widget\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"6604678\" data-observed=\"false\" data-init=\"true\" itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"outer\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"spacer\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mod-image\"\u003e\u003cimg height=\"1110\" width=\"1110\" alt=\"\" data-inline-image=\"true\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, 1200px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.essexlive.news\/incoming\/article6604678.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_SwitchBotSmartCurtain-White_600x.jpg 458w,https:\/\/i2-prod.essexlive.news\/incoming\/article6604678.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_SwitchBotSmartCurtain-White_600x.jpg 1200w\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.essexlive.news\/incoming\/article6604678.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_SwitchBotSmartCurtain-White_600x.jpg\" content=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.essexlive.news\/incoming\/article6604678.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_SwitchBotSmartCurtain-White_600x.jpg\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/figure\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt's basically a motorized \"bot\" that attaches to a variety of different curtain rails and uses a motor to propel the drapes along the rail, saving you having to do it yourself.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut within a few minutes of getting them out of the box, I'd set each bot up and clipped it to my U-rail. And they work brilliantly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe process of attaching them takes no time at all, it's just a clip-on system. Linking it to my phone took a few attempts, but it worked quickly, and then setting up the module and smart speaker was a fairly quick process too.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere's a bit more work to do in \"calibrating\" the bots, to tell them how far to run to close the curtains properly, and telling them when to stop as they pull them open, but the app is great, and makes it all very simple.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cfigure class=\"in-article-image\" data-mod=\"image\" data-orientation=\"landscape\" data-tmdatatrack=\"inline-widget\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"6604683\" data-observed=\"false\" data-init=\"true\" data-tmdatatrack-visible=\"true\" itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"outer\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"spacer\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mod-image\"\u003e\u003cimg height=\"295\" width=\"443\" alt=\"\" data-inline-image=\"true\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, 1200px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.essexlive.news\/incoming\/article6604683.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/19_2400_1600.jpg 458w,https:\/\/i2-prod.essexlive.news\/incoming\/article6604683.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/19_2400_1600.jpg 1200w\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.essexlive.news\/incoming\/article6604683.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/19_2400_1600.jpg\" content=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.essexlive.news\/incoming\/article6604683.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/19_2400_1600.jpg\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/figure\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe nice people at Switchbot also sent me\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/go.redirectingat.com\/?id=76202X1561107\u0026amp;xs=1\u0026amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.switch-bot.com%2Fcollections%2Faccessories%2Fproducts%2Fswitchbot-solar-panel\u0026amp;sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.essexlive.news%2Fwhats-on%2Freviews%2Fswitchbot-curtain-smart-robot-review-6604613\u0026amp;xcust=xid:fr1696508828643dci\" rel=\"nofollow\" data-orig-url=\"https:\/\/go.redirectingat.com\/?id=76202X1561107\u0026amp;xs=1\u0026amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.switch-bot.com%2Fcollections%2Faccessories%2Fproducts%2Fswitchbot-solar-panel\u0026amp;sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.essexlive.news%2Fwhats-on%2Freviews%2Fswitchbot-curtain-smart-robot-review-6604613\" data-ml-id=\"5\" data-ml=\"true\" data-xid=\"fr1696508828643dci\" target=\"_blank\"\u003esome solar panels\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eto hook up to the bots, which keep the batteries topped up. These can either clip onto the bots themselves or, if the window is too far below the curtains, they can be stuck onto the curtain.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSticky tape and velcro, it turns out, isn't the best way to do this. And that's the only option you have. I've yet to engineer a better solution, but I'm working on it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe app, incidentally, will let you create schedules. So, for example, you can time your curtains to open when your alarm is due to go off. Use this option with caution though, in case your wife decides to get up early for a run and the bots inadvertently almost reveal all to the neighbours while she's changing into her sportswear.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cfigure class=\"in-article-image\" data-mod=\"image\" data-orientation=\"landscape\" data-tmdatatrack=\"inline-widget\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"6604690\" data-observed=\"false\" data-init=\"true\" itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"outer\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"spacer\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mod-image\"\u003e\n\u003cimg height=\"629\" width=\"629\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0764\/3512\/8610\/files\/4_df32618d-7c05-449b-89d3-bf5ec2d3101c_480x480.webp?v=1696509132\" data-mce-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0764\/3512\/8610\/files\/4_df32618d-7c05-449b-89d3-bf5ec2d3101c_480x480.webp?v=1696509132\"\u003e\u003cimg height=\"873\" width=\"1310\" alt=\"\" data-inline-image=\"true\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, 1200px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.essexlive.news\/incoming\/article6604690.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/200804_SwitchBot_Curtain_U_with_solar_panel_white_200827_121248_1.jpg 458w,https:\/\/i2-prod.essexlive.news\/incoming\/article6604690.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/200804_SwitchBot_Curtain_U_with_solar_panel_white_200827_121248_1.jpg 1200w\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.essexlive.news\/incoming\/article6604690.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/200804_SwitchBot_Curtain_U_with_solar_panel_white_200827_121248_1.jpg\" content=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.essexlive.news\/incoming\/article6604690.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/200804_SwitchBot_Curtain_U_with_solar_panel_white_200827_121248_1.jpg\"\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/figure\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"article-body\" itemprop=\"articleBody\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47526677479673,"sku":null,"price":2300.0,"currency_code":"PKR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0803\/4235\/2121\/files\/1_9fe0f7f2-bd7e-4052-b134-4d3979be3f07.webp?v=1773742025","url":"https:\/\/eliteexpres.store\/products\/switchbot-curtain-rod-pole-white","provider":"Elite Expres","version":"1.0","type":"link"}